Flatwork knitting machine



June 20, 1939. p, STRQUD 2,'1$2,982

FLATWORK-KNI'TTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet June 12939 P. G STROUD FLATWORK' KNITTING MACHINE s Shee ts-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1958 ATTORNEY.

' June 2%, 1939. G .STROUD 2,1$Z,98Z

FLATWORK KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 21, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 VENTOR WATTORNEY.

Patented June 20,- 1939 PATENT 01 F1 1;

2.16am rm'rwonx m'r'rma meme Paul G. Stroud, Belmont, N. E, asslgnor to Be!- mont Hosiery Company,

Belmont, N. E, a corporation of New Hampshire Application February 21,1938. sci-nine. 191,025 16 Claims..' cs-lz'n .This invention relates to knitting machines of the so-called flat type and is more especially concerned with those designed for the knitting of full-fashioned hosiery.

6 It is now a common custom in knitting machines of this type to feed the silk forknitting the main portion of a stocking alternately from three spools, cones, or other sources of supply. This expedient has'the result of averaging any 10 unevenness in the silk', an 'd thus reducing to'aminimum the tendency to produce horizontal llllgS.

' The present invention'aims to simplify the mechanisms provided for the purpose of feeding the thread in this. manner and to devise an arrangement which will be more reliable in opera tion and will require less care, skill and attention on the part of the machine tender or operator. The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and thenovel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

- 5 Figure 1 is a transverse, sectional view through the thread carrier bars and adjacent parts of a full-fashioned knitting machine, and illustrates a construction embodying features of this invention;

80' Fig. 2 is a view approximately 'on the line 2-2,-Fig. 1, with parts broken away in order better to illustrate the details of construction:

Figs. 3' and 4 are plan 'and front view, respectively, of the thread feedingdnstrumentalities 35 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in their operative positions in a knitting machine, these views being some,- what diagrammatic in character; and

Fig. .5 is an angular view of a portion of one of the thread carrier bars and the equipment pro- 40 vided .by this invention for operating it.

In the drawings, the numerals "I, 2 and I desigv nate certain of the thread carrier bars of afullfashioned knitting machine mounted in the usual way, the bars carrying thread guiding fingers 4,

45 5 and 6, respectively, Fig. 1.

of the machine these fingers feed thread alternately to the needles I of aisingle section oraknitting machine, while other fingers mounted on the bars perform the correspondiing thread 5Q feeding functions for other-sections. The-illus tration of all of these parts in the drawings-is purely conventional, since they are all wellbown'j elements of any'fullfashionedmachineiand acrigidly .in the'head I.v The dogs are mounted above and in the same plane with the respective cordingly, no detailed illustration of them is necso essary. The machine isal e 49!!!! gonventiona predetermined fixed order.

In 1 the operation ally as equipped with the head! mounted on the customary driving rod Ill and guided on another rod l2.

The customary three-carrier feeding mechanisms are so organized that one thread carrier 5. makes its thread feeding stroke and then remains idle while the second makes its stroke, this, in turn, remaining inactive while the third. moves across thesedtion and feeds thread to the needles-.' These operations are repeated, the fingers feed- -10 ing their thread to the needles alternately and in The mechanism provided by this invention produces this same result but with a much simpler construction.

Referring to Figs. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that 16 the thread carrier bar 3 is equipped with a supplemental bar or bridge piece ll. Formed integral with the bar II are two end plates i5l5 which are welded or riveted securely to the bar 3. The thread guiding fingers 6 and 6' are secured to the go lower side of the bar and extend downwardly into their normal relationship to the knitting instrumentalities. Functionally the bar ll forms a part of the carrier bar I, and it is made separate fromit as a matter of manufacturing convenience and to reduce the expense of making change-overs. At its right-hand'end the bar ll is notched, as best'shown in Figs. 2 and 5, to

provide twoshoulders l8 and I1 for engagement with pawls for driving the bar. Between these shoulders it is equipped with a cam it which is secured rigidly to the bar. As best shown in Fig. 2, the thread handled byv the thread finger 6 is led from a suitable source of supply through a thread guiding hbl'e 2n extending into the end of the bar It or the plate I5 of this bar and emerges at the eye 2i directly over the entrance to another thread passage 22 in the lower part of the plate. This passage guides the thread into the thread guiding portions of'the finger 6. lit 40 should be understood that this same construction is used at the opposite end of the bar I 4. Also, that each ofthe other thread carrier bars I and 2 is equipped with a supplemental bar It and parts associated with it exactly like the arrange- 5 mentJust described.

For the purpose of operating th thread carrier bars selectively and in the pro' order, the reciprocating'head 8 is equipped with three donble acting dogs, indicated at 23, 24 and 25, respec- 5o tively. These dogs are mounted "side by side on a bar or rod 26 so that they can rock about the aids of this-member, the bar or rod being secured carrier bars and each cooperates with one bar only. Since they are all alike and the cooperative relationship between each and its bar is like that of the others, a description or one only is required.

Referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that thedoB 25 is provided with two integral pawls, indicated at a and b, respectively, each designed to engage the notches l3 and I1, and when so engaged and moved with the reciprocating head 8, to traverse the carrier bar 3 through its operative path of movement. The dog can rock on the rod 26 into position to bring either pawl into cooperative relationship to its bar, and a spring pressed ball 2! bearing on the rod 33, which is either integral with, or rigidly secured to, the rod 23, cooperates with the inclined and flattened surfaces 01' the part-23 to hold the pawl yieidingly in contact with the respective shoulders I! and 11. Also, the range of swinging movement oivthe pawl is limited by two screws 30 and 3| threaded through completed its movement toward the right, then it is clear that the thread guiding finger 3 will have just completed a thread feeding stroke. A friction mechanism of any suitable type is provided to hold all of the thread carrier *bars' in stationary positions except when they are being positively driven by the head 8 and its connec-.

,tions with the-bars, Consequently. when th'edog arrives-in theposition shown in Fig. 4 and.

starts upon its return stroke toward the left, its operative engagement with the bar'3 will 'be tnterrupted. In other words, as it moves toward 'the le'it, the pawl b will be withdrawn from the notch I1 and its lower edge will strike the cam i8. As it continues to move toward the leit the engagementoi thesetwo parts will rock the dog 2 in counter-clockwise direction until the pawl a- I is rought down upon the upper surface of the bar ll. Thespringpressedball 21 serves tohold it in this position and, in tact, pit lishtly against position while the head 3 makes. one*complete reciprocation. That is,-i t'complet'es its stroke tothe left, Fig. 4, andfthen another stroke to the risht. Uponitsretm'nitbrinssthe dogbackinto' theposition shown-in Fig. 2 where the pawl 11 o s into the notch 13. Upon the next stroke oi the dog toward-the left, it will carry the it with it, andthennger 3 will again ieedthr'ead;

to the needles. As the-head reverses, the pawl a will move' out or the notch 13, thus interrupting its driving connection with the bar ",and le av' ing-the bar in an idle position. a it mdvu tod, the right it will be kno'ckedover into approximatelyits positionin Fig. 4, and it willremaininthispositionwhil'e theheadmakes one complete reciprocation but at the completion oi'that reciprocation the'pawlb will drop into;

. the notch i'liand, asthe head'moves toward the right, will carry thebar ll backinto showninflg.4aaain.-

which a make movementandthmrator'remainidlewhile theheadlmahsaa-cunplste on. In themeantimhoweverjthe'othertwobars'i'and Ihavebeen-simiiafiycpqated. Duringthefll'lt three bars said bar. T118408 will rem'aindn this sprints. each encircling threaded into a portionot one oi the bearing bracketsll'inwhichthe'threadean'ierbarsm theposition supported-tor longitudinal reciprocating mbveto ilhistrate him here, however, since j stroke of the head, immediately after the operation of the bar 3, the bar 2 will be operated by its dog and will feed thread to the needles. It will then remain idle while the head makes ,two

additional strokes,- and during the first of these strokes the bar I will be operated by its dog to feed thread. to the needles. .Upon the .next suc ceeding stroke the bar} comes into operation again. Thus in this particular. arrangement the bars areoperated alternately in the order 3, 2, I, 3, 2, I, etc.

It will be dog is independent of that of. the others and 'dependssolely uponthe-reciprocating movement of the head 8 and the engagement of the dog with its respective bar or the cam mounted on that bar. Its shift from one operative position to the other is effected by its movement of translation relatively to its respective bar, and the interruption andre-estabiishment of its driving connections-with its bar in the proper timed relation-- mounting the three dogs properly with reference to their respective bars, correctly adjusting their range of oscillating movement, setting one bar to the right and the other two to the left, or vice versa, and initially disposing the dogs in their proper angular relationship to their respective bars, the apparatus may be made to operate the in the correct. timed relationship to each other. This relationship thereafter maintained automatically.

' Preferably the rod 26' is madeintegral with, or

is secured rigidly in, a member 32, Figs. 1 and 3, which tits into a socket in the central member .otthe head and istpivoted there on the pin 33. This member is of rectangular crow-section and fits snugly between the walls of the socket so that it supports the bar 23 rigidly with reference to the head. At the same time this member can be swung upwardly on the pivot 33, carryins the dogs with it, into a position where they will all be clear of the bars so that either the dogs or observedthat the operation of each 7 the bars themselves can be removed, adjusted, or

replaced, as may be found necessary. After be-. ing returned to' its operative position, it is secured -there by a wing screw'3l, Fig. 3.

. Collars as and is fitting over the rods is e d '28 are' secured to them by set screws and serve to hold the assembly of dogs 23, 24 and 23 against movement, axially oi the rod 28 out 0! their operative positions.

Any suitable form of friction mechanism may beutilizedtoholdthebars Liand 3instationary positions except when they are being driven by their'respectivedogs. A typical arrangement is illustrated in '3 and i inwhich leather pieces '3TI-3"I secured to the'lower' edge ot'a pressure plate 38 are'arrang'ed-to bear on this entire series of rods, the plate itself being pressed-downwardly toward the rods byo'ne or more spiral a screw M which is ment. Any'other convenient way oi applying this used.

pressure may,however, be

skilled in this art,.a

Aswellk'nownbythose lull-fashioned knitting machine is customarily I I 55 path parallel with and not Ilre'ctly concerned with'the present invention. It will also lie-understood that the particular relationship which the bars I', .2 'and 3,1'ig. 1, bear to the other bars may be changed as circum- 5 stances require. .That is, the three bars just mentioned, as shown in'Fig. 1, are the three lowermost of the entire series of bars but they may equally as well be the three upper bars, or they may be located in any other relationship with m reference to the bars not used for this particular plicity it can be manufactured and installed ecog5 nomically. In addition, it is ot'such a" nature that it is extremely reliable, is not likely to get out of order, and when once properlyv adjusted. requires a minimum of attention on the part. of the operator. Y a While .I have herein shown and described a typical embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. 35 Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claimas new is:

1. In a flat knitting machine, the combination.

with a plurality of thread carrier bars mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in paral- 4o lel paths and thread guides on said bars for feed;

ing threads to the needles of the machine,-of a reciprocating head mounted for movement in a path parallel with and closely adjacent to'said bars, means can-led by said head for reciprocat 45 ing said bars, and parts acting through the movement of said head relatively to the respective bars for causing said means to operate said bars in-- termittently and in a predetermined order.

' 2. In a flat knitting machine, the combination 5 with a,plurality of thread carrierbars mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in parallel paths and thread guides on said bars for feeding threads to the needles of the machine, of a reciprocating head mounted for movement in a closely adjacent tosaid bars, means carried'by said head for reciprocating said bars, and parts on said bars'cooperating with said means to cause the latter to operate said barsalternately.

so 3. In a flat knitting machine, the bination with a plurality of thread carrier mounted.

side by side for reciprocating movement in lel paths and thread guides on said bars for feeding threads to the needles or the machine, of a- 5 reciprocating head mounted for movement in apath parallel with and closely adjacent to said bars, means carried by said head for reciprocating said bars, and parts on said bars cooperating with saidmeans during the reciprocation of said 7 head to establish and interrupt driving connections between said means and said respective lags in such a timed relation as to operate the bars intermittently andin a predetermined order.

- 4. In ar flat knitting machine, the combination 7 with a series ot-thread carrier bars mounted side by side for movement -in parallel paths and thread guides on said bars for feeding threads to the needles of the machine, of a reciprocating head mounted-tor movement in a path parallel with and closely adjacent to said 5 bars, means carried by said head for reciprocat ing said bars, and means operated by the recip rocation of said head relatively to said bars to shift its driving connections from one bar to another and thus to operate them intermittently 1'0 and in a predetermined order and to reverse the direction .of movement 01' each bar for successive operations thereon, I

5. In a flat knitting machine, the combination with a plurality oi thread carrier bars mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in parallel paths and thread guides on said bars for feeding threads to the needles of the machine, oi a reciprocating head mounted for movement in a path parallelwith and closely adjacent to said m bars, and means carried by said headfor reciprocating said bars comprising driving pawls mounted on said head and operative to engage parts on the respective bars to reciprocate them,

said means and said parts cooperating with the.

travel of said head to interrupt the driving relationship between each bar'and its respective pawl for a predetermined number of strokes of r the head immediately following the completion of a stroke of theebar. so

6. In aflat knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of 'thread carrier bars mounted side. by side for/reciprocating movement in parallei paths and thread guides on said bars for feeding. threads to the needles of'the machine, ofa reciprocating head mounted for, movement in a path parallel with and closely adjacent to said bar's, means carried by said head for reciprocating said bars comprising a plurality of dogs car-p riedby said head, one for each bar, means on' as each bar cooperating with the movement of the 'head and the respective dog for that bar to make and break the operative connection between the bar and the dog in such a timed relationship to the movements of said head that the bars will be operated intermittently and in a predetermined.

order.'

7. In a flat. knitting machine, the combination with-a series of thread carrier bars mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in parallel m 7 paths andthread guides on saidbars for feeding threads to the needles of the machine, 01' a reciprocating head. mounted for movement in a path parallel with and closely adjacent to said bars, means carried by said head for reciprocating said bars, and parts' cooperating with said meansand with the reciprocation of the head relatively to said bars to shift the driving connectlon from one bar to another in such a timed relation as to operate the bars alternately. .00

'8, In a hat knitting machine. the combination with a plurality of thread carrier bars mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in paral- Ie'lpaths-and thread guides on said bars for i'eeding threads to the needles of the machine, 01' a. reciprocating head mounted for movement in a path parallel. with and-closely adjacent to said bars, means carried by said head for reciprocating said bars comprising a plurality 'of dogs cara ried by saidhead,'one for each bar, each of said bars having cooperating with its respective dog to releasably establish driving connections therewith serving to slide the bar longitudinally, and a cam on each bar operable through the relative motion oI-the bar and said head to shift 1 4 its respective :dog after each stroke of the bar to render the dog ineil'ective during the next reciprocation of the head but to cause the dog then to reengage the bar and to opposite-to its preceding direction of movement. 9. In a-flat knitting machine, the combination with a plurality of thread carrier bars mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in parallel paths and thread guides on said bars ior teeding threads to the needles of the machine, of a reciprocating head mounted for movement in a path parallel with and closely adjacentto said bars, means carried by said head for reciprocate I ing said bars comprising a plurality 01' dogs carried by said head, one for each bar, each of said bars having parts cooperating with its respective dogj'to releasably' establish driving connections therewith serving to slide the bar longitudinally, and a cam on each bar operable through the relative motion oi the bar and said head to shift said driving connection following its respective thread feeding movement in one direction -so as to drive it in the opposite dogs and cooperating parts being so constructed and-arranged that the bars will be operated in rotation.

10. In a flat knitting machine, the combination side by side for reciprocating movement in parallel paths and thread guides-on said bars for feeding. threads to the needles of the'machine. of-a reciprocating head mounted for movement in a path parallel with and closely adjacent to said bars, dogs mounted on said head, one for each bar, each dog beihg provided with oppositely acting pawls, each'ot said ,to engage said pawls and thus to cause the head to drive the basin oppomte directions, a'cam-on each bar between said shoulders tor causingthe movement bring said pawis into operation alternately. sa d parts associated with each being so related aper leading-thethi'eadtoa Y iingerand into positicntobefed into tbethread eflnger.

machine, the combination drive itin the direction direction after onecomplete reciprocation or the head, said-cams,

with a'plurality of thread carrier bars mountedbars having two shoulders of-said head relatively to the bar to .as to render-the pawls inoperative to-drive the with a-- plurality of thread mounted side by side for reciprocating movement in parallel paths and thread guides on said bars for feeding threads to the needles of the machine, of a reciprocating path parallel bars, andmeans ciprocating said rod mounted on supported thereof, each head mounted for movement in a with and closely adjacent to said carried by said head for rebars selectively, comprising a' said head and relatively stationa plurality of --dogs andspring actuated means individual to the respective dogs and cooperatingwith said rod to hold the dogs releasably in either 01! two angular positions inwhich. the pawls are in their respective operative positions.

14:1'n a flat knitting preceding claim 13, the threaded into the opposite engage said rod and thereby ably-the opposite ment, of the dog.

with a plurality o 15. In a fiat knitting machine,

machine according to provision of stop screws sides oi each dog to to determine adiustlimits of'the oscillating movethe combination 1 thread carrier bars. mounted --1el paths and thread guides on said bars for feed- 3 ing threads to the needles of themachine, oia

reciprocating head mounted for movementin a path parallel with and bars, dogs mounted on closely adjacent to said u said-head; one for eachbar, each dog being provided with oppositely acting pawls, each of said bars having two'shoulders' to engage'said pawls head to drive the bar cam on each bar between and thus to cause the inopposite directions. a

said head relatively to the to bring said pawls into operation alternately,

lated as to render the pawlsinoperative to drive I the bar during one-reciprocating of the head immediately following an thebar.

16. In aflat l'el paths and ing threads to a reciprocating head mounted path parallel with and mounted on bars, dogs bar,eachdcgbeingprovidedwith each or said bar having me. pawl-s;

'derstoengage the bar during one-rec operative movement of combination thread carrier bars mounted movement in paral-,

the machine. of a for movement in a closely adjacent to said said head, one for each 099 a two shoulfi l the .pawisinoperative to drive procation oi'tbe head immediately following an -operative movementoi the bar. and said metal barsbeingeo parts'associatedwiflithelevrelatodandadjmtc thatthe Wm.

as .raunQs-moon.

said shoulders tor caus-i I 

